With every spring comes a cast of players who "help themselves," i.e. increase their prominence on the team with strong showings on the practice field.

Below is a look at some of this year's big winners, in no particular order.

Brandon Erwin and Justin Scott

Both of the Boilermakers' starting safeties improved this spring, by all accounts. On one of the very first plays of the spring "game," Erwin broke in front of a receiver for a break-up unlike anything you saw last season from the once-timid rookie starter.

Scott is said to have improved his tackling - laying some real haymakers this spring, apparently - and has been playing the ball in the air better in coverage.

Kory Sheets

Sheets was humbled by his demotion to the second team prior to the spring. He responded with an April performance that has set Purdue's competition at running back ablaze.

Dan Zaleski

The former walk-on offensive tackle shook off a sore shoulder at the start of spring to earn high praise for his efforts in place of anticipated starter Garret Miller at left offensive tackle, a position that's still very much a work in progress.